iPhone Dark Sky - Accuracy

[chrisf60647]

What happened to Dark Sky? This was the go to app for accuracy and it seems like its real off lately.

Case in point, Dark Sky says its 37 in my town. Every other app including my car says its 45. I have noticed that lately its been very off.

Heck, i can step outside and feel that is higher than 37.

Anyone else??

 

[0128672]

Dark Sky is super reliable where I live, and I keep location services on for it always. I wouldn't worry about it if it's off a few degrees a day here and there. If it's always off, maybe you can give them feedback. The developer contact info is available on darksky.net.

 

[djs71a]

I have noticed the same thing... Ever since Apple bought them it seems to be less accurate. I have been using the stock weather app and going to weather.com in Safari if I want to see radar.

 

[pacorob]

Maybe time to switch over to better alternatives that also have excellent homescreen widgets:

Best options:
- Carrot Weather (free but you need subscription to get different weather sources, best customization in widgets)
- Forecast Bar (free but for other weather source subscription based, a few weather sources)
- Hello Weather (free, with subscription option to get different weather sources)

Other options:
- BeWeather 3 (free, recently switched source, has ads if you haven't purchased in past, only has today view widget for former paid users)
- OpenWeather (free)
- Foreca Weather (free, subscription to remove ads)
- Overdrop Weather (free, with subscription or pay once in-app, multiple weather sources)
- Today Weather - Widget & Alert (free, with subscription option, multiple weather sources)

 

[0128672]

Well, "better" is subjective. In my location, the default weather app matches Dark Sky most of the time. There's so many factors. Implying Apple changed the code in Dark Sky's algorithm is a bit hard to believe, but if you've got a source to back that up, it would be an interesting read. If a weather app doesn't work well for your location, it's time to try something else, but there's no guarantee it will be different. You may find discrepancies between any weather app and other sources.

 

[pacorob]

Well, "better" is subjective. In my location, the default weather app matches Dark Sky most of the time. There's so many factors. Implying Apple changed the code in Dark Sky's algorithm is a bit hard to believe, but if you've got a source to back that up, it would be an interesting read. If a weather app doesn't work well for your location, it's time to try something else, but there's no guarantee it will be different. You may find discrepancies between any weather app and other sources.

I'm just saying 'better' since it seems that Apple is abandoning the app ever since they took over the app. The original developer would have released a collection of homescreen widgets for iOS14 and up from day one.

As far as source reliability is concerned yes that really depends on where you are in the world which weather source is accurate (on average). I'm also aware that there is ForecastAdvisor for the US (only). Some of the suggested apps I bring to the table also have the option to use Dark Sky as a source but also offer other weather sources (as a premium part of the subscription) to compare it to as well (such as Carrot Weather and Hello Weather).

 

[0128672]

I'm just saying better due to the fact it seems that Apple is abandoning the app ever since they took over the app. The original developer would have released a collection of homescreen widgets for iOS14 and up from day one.

As far as source reliability is concerned yes that really depends on where you are in the world which weather source is accurate (on average). Some of the suggested apps I bring to the table also have the option to use Dark Sky as a source but also offer other weather sources (as a premium part of the subscription) to compare it to as well (such as Carrot Weather and Hello Weather).

Please cite a source for your "fact" that Apple "is abandoning the app". I've used Dark Sky for years and haven't noticed any changes since Apple bought it. There was nothing in the developer's blog prior to Apple's purchase that they were planning to release any widgets. I'd like to know where your info is coming from.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Please cite a source for your "fact" that Apple "is abandoning the app". I've used Dark Sky for years and haven't noticed any changes since Apple bought it. There was nothing in the developer's blog prior to Apple's purchase that they were planning to release any widgets. I'd like to know where your info is coming from.

It's just speculation obviously but the lack of a widget - one of the big new features for iOS14 - for a first-party app doesn't feel like it bodes well. Plus what is the value for Apple of maintaining two weather apps?

If anything I'd say you're the one that needs to cite a source for them not eventually rolling it into Weather.app, because it's just not Apple-like to have two apps doing the exact same thing.

 

[0128672]

It's just speculation obviously but the lack of a widget - one of the big new features for iOS14 - for a first-party app doesn't feel like it bodes well. Plus what is the value for Apple of maintaining two weather apps?

If anything I'd say you're the one that needs to cite a source for them not eventually rolling it into Weather.app, because it's just not Apple-like to have two apps doing the exact same thing.

I have no idea what Apple's plans are for the app. But if I was going to state my opinion as a "fact" (as the poster above did), I would cite a source.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

I have no idea what Apple's plans are for the app. But if I was going to state my opinion as a "fact" (as the poster above did), I would cite a source.

He said "it seems they're abandoning it", I think you're being a bit over literal with his words.

 

[chrisf60647]

Thanks all. Who knows if Apple stopped work on DS as they really haven't updated it in a while. Really, why would they? They can integrate it into the stock weather app.

I guess what I am saying is is that Dark Sky, as i see it, seems to be a bit lacking of late.

 

[pacorob]

I have no idea what Apple's plans are for the app. But if I was going to state my opinion as a "fact" (as the poster above did), I would cite a source.

I changed my wording a bit so it's clear for everyone that I was just speculating as others said as well but my point was that keeping both the Apple weather app and DarkSky available doesn't make much sense (personal assumption) and the fact as I said before that the app wasn't updated with iOS14 features such as homescreen widgets does worry me a bit since the original developer was always on top of new iOS features to implement these and you would expect that the company behind the iOS would implement it also in all their own apps in a certain period of time after the iOS release which hasn't happened for Dark Sky.

 

[principia]

I'm just saying 'better' since it seems that Apple is abandoning the app ever since they took over the app. The original developer would have released a collection of homescreen widgets for iOS14 and up from day one.

As far as source reliability is concerned yes that really depends on where you are in the world which weather source is accurate (on average). I'm also aware that there is ForecastAdvisor for the US (only). Some of the suggested apps I bring to the table also have the option to use Dark Sky as a source but also offer other weather sources (as a premium part of the subscription) to compare it to as well (such as Carrot Weather and Hello Weather).

Apple is using the DarkSky algorithm to incorporate into their own weather app. Standard merger and acquisition (M&A) modus operandi especially for Apple.
If Apple planed to abandon the app, they would take it down entirely. I see no motive for Apple to make it less accurate. Why would to spend money to break something that they already purchased and are using as a template? Apple might not want to spend resources to spruce up the UI for the widget release in iOS14, but that doesn’t mean they’re not supporting current functionality(especially since apple is using that in their built in weather app).

 

[EduardoJBG]

I’ve also noticed the lack of accuracy since some months ago. Right now it’s telling me I’m under heavy rain, and it’s just a very slight drizzle, if at all (and I’m in the middle of a storm - Grace). Thanks to Radar Scope I can see the real condition. I’ve also noticed that it doesn’t notify me rain is coming as well as it did before. It used to be very reliable. And what I’m saying doesn’t imply any tinkering from Apple. It’s just not working as it did.

 

[0128672]

I run Dark Sky and Apple weather app side-by-side on my phone and iPad, and it's odd how large the discrepancies are some of the time. I would think if Apple had incorporated more of Dark Sky's algorithms, it should be closer. Some days it's more than a 10 degree temp difference, and similar differences for humidity, UV, and dew point. I am getting accurate precipitation forecasts though. I imagine it might have something to do with the sources, but there's no way to tell as far as I know.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I’ll be honest, the worst thing that happened to Dark Sky was Apple buying it. I don’t know if it is coincidence but it’s nowhere near as accurate as it used to be. I’m sure it’s great in countries where the weather is more predictable, however I find it no longer predicts Britain’s very changeable weather that well at all. Quite sad really as I recommended it to so many people over the years for its accuracy.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

I’ll be honest, the worst thing that happened to Dark Sky was Apple buying it. I don’t know if it is coincidence but it’s nowhere near as accurate as it used to be. I’m sure it’s great in countries where the weather is more predictable, however I find it no longer predicts Britain’s very changeable weather that well at all. Quite sad really as I recommended it to so many people over the years for its accuracy.

Agreed. I just moved to Bristol and the app is terrible at predicting the intermittent west country drizzle we get. In London it was always fairly accurate tbh.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Agreed. I just moved to Bristol and the app is terrible at predicting the intermittent west country drizzle we get. In London it was always fairly accurate tbh.

The same in South Wales, the weather changes by the half hour sometimes and Dark Sky usually fails to alert for rain like it used to do. Where it used to be my sole weather app, I now have to refer to 3 different apps just to take an overall guess. My wife and I have used iPhones for years but she joked as soon as it was announced Apple had bought Dark Sky that ‘that was the end of that app being any good’ lol. It was said as a joke but seems to have come true!

 

[jseymour]

When Apple bought Dark Sky they discontinued the Android app. When they did that they probably lost about half their realtime reporting input.

That seems to me to have been a stupid move.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

When Apple bought Dark Sky they discontinued the Android app. When they did that they probably lost about half their realtime reporting input.

That seems to me to have been a stupid move.

Absolutely I would say. It should have remained cross platform for better performance.